Page 29 of In the Stars

He told me his future partner would be a hard worker like him and put in the hours to rise to the top. I never aspired to be a bigwig or anything like that. Evan ate and breathed that shit.

I said I wanted to quit, and he said if I left the firm, we were done. So we were done.

“Evan,” I say, my tone dripping with annoyance. “I’m not going to play this game with you anymore. You’re married. You’ve made your decision. There is no more fighting for me,” I do this in air quotes, though he can’t see me. “I’ve moved on,” I lie. “So please, don’t call me anymore.”

He sighs, long and deep. “I guess this is really over, huh?”

“It’s been over for years, Evan. You just chose not to see it.”

His chuckle is self-deprecating. “Yeah, you’re right.Graduated at the top of our class and still can’t read the signs directly in front of me.”

“Focus on making your wife happy, Evan. From what I remember, she’s a good woman. She doesn’t deserve a man half in and half out of a marriage.”

“You’re right.” He exhales roughly. “Fuck, you’re right.” He pauses for a beat then says, “Take care, Jaxon.”

“You too.” I hang up and toss my cell onto the desk, closing my eyes to beat back the headache.

For a while, my life seemed to be on the right track—a good job, a good place, what I thought was a good man—but it didn’t stick. Leaving Seattle and Even shook up my world. But if I’m honest, my world hasn’t been stable for a while.

Not since I was sixteen.

When I open my eyes, I almost can’t believe what I’m seeing.

Or rather,whoI’m seeing.

Wesley stands in the doorway, hands at his sides, staring at me with an expression that I can’t identify. I sit up and blink, trying to make sure he’s really here.

“Wesley?” I ask, rising from my chair and placing my palms flat on the desk. “Is…what are you doing here?”

He steps into my office, looking around at my hanging degrees and the pictures I have on the walls. He lingers on the one of me, Mom, and Dad. He gazes at it for a long moment, swallowing thickly.

After a few seconds, he turns to me, a small smile on his lips.

He looks really good. Still a little gaunt but not as haggard as he did when I visited him a few months back. There’s more color in his cheeks, and his eyes are clear. They flash with uncertainty but not the anger that radiated through them when I saw him in rehab. His hair isfull and thick, lustrous, but cut short, left a little shaggy on the top. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him without long hair.

“I knew you’d be a hotshot one day,” he says, stepping closer to the desk. “It suits you.”

I duck my head. “Not sure about hotshot, but thanks.” I glance back up at him, meeting his gaze. “What are you doing here?” I ask again.

“Your mom…” He clears his throat. “I’d like to visit her, if that’s okay?”

I can see the hurt in his eyes. He really did love her. That makes me happy, though sadness quickly follows on its heels. He misses her too. He probably thought about her every day after she died since his band was named for her.

“Yeah, sure. She’s over at St Marie’s on the other side of town. In lot six, on the first row. Her headstone has angels on the sides. You can’t miss it.”

He nods. “Thank you. I don’t deserve it, after what happened, but…thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And…you do. You do deserve to say good-bye to her.”

His smile is faint, but it’s there. I can’t ask for more than that. “Okay. My sponsor said I should try to accept what people say, not search for bullshit in their words. You never gave me that vibe. I appreciate that.” He walks backwards, still looking at me as he goes to leave my office.

Before he turns around, I say, “My dad told me… your mom, she left you her house.”

He stops, and his shoulders curl in. “I know. I can’t think about that right now. Gotta put one foot in front of the other, and her house isn’t on my radar. Tell your dad to keep the key though, okay?”

“I have it. All his clients became mine when he retired,and your mom hired him to do her final will. Whenever you want it, let me know, yeah?”

“Okay.” He turns away this time.

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